Sign knowledge

Here’s a brief list of some of the things that go into consideration when we design signs.

letter size

Although a good general rule of thumb for the size of letters on a sign is one inch for every ten feet of distance at which the sign will be seen, there are variations depending on the conditions.
- If the colors used have relatively low contrast, they’ll need to be bigger.
- If the font used is more decorative, they might need to be bigger.
- If the sign itself is a decorative element.
There are also instances in which the letters can be smaller than this rule of thumb.
- To influence behavior; slightly too small can make people move closer to see it clearly which might introduce them to a display or group of products.
- If the contrast can support it, for example if the sign lights up.
- There might be other exceptions regarding interior design features.

Human averages

The ways in which people interact with their environment has a lot to do with their physical abilities, which is why it’s good to know the average limits people have. People with a limited range of motion in their neck, for example, aren’t going to tilt their heads as much to see things that are too low or too high. There are certain types of color blindness that might make some types of signage hard to see. What about people in wheelchairs? There are many things to take into account in signage design.

Location conditions

Signage meant to help people find what they’re looking for or navigating a complex space only works if it’s not only easily seen but is obviously different than all of the other visually stimulating things we encounter. More and more the places we go are filled with advertisements, which are designed to demand your attention. This is why signage that’s meant to help people needs to be easily recognized for what it is.

The lighting conditions can also influence the effectiveness of signage. If light it shining directly at a sign, lighter colors like yellows, oranges, and pastel colors can become washed out. If the surfaces of the signage are glossy, at certain angles there can be a bright reflective glare that can make it hard to read. Likewise, under-lit locations will need to use lighter colors.